Brookhaven Circle feels the pinch of popularity as parking becomes an issue

Hog & Hominy made its debut last week and created parking hell on Brookhaven Circle.

Developed as a residential circle in the early 1950s, before the massive shadow of Clark Tower loomed, the street was not designed to handle all the traffic and parking for what it has become: A tidy East Memphis enclave, just off Poplar, of small businesses, medical and dental offices and an increasing number of popular restaurants. Many of these entities occupy the original houses, while a few are in newer buildings erected after the first houses were demolished.

On West Brookhaven the restaurants include the new Hog & Hominy, Brookhaven Pub and Grill, Bangkok Alley and, across the street, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen, the parent of Hog & Hominy. On East Brookhaven Circle stands the imposing edifice of Marciano's, the Italian-Mediterranean restaurant, with Windjammer Restaurant and Lounge — better-known as a karaoke bar — just to the south.

A visit to West Brookhaven Circle on a recent night revealed cars parked all over the place, including on the inside curb lane, which is posted No Parking. That crowding didn't leave a lot of space for automobiles traveling along the street.

"It's a problem, but it's a wonderful problem," said Isabelle Welch, owner of the music school Studio 708, next door to Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen. "Andrew Michael has brought so much great business to our quiet little street. I don't mind if people park here at night, and I know that some nights every parking place is taken."

The official rule in Memphis is that a restaurant must have one parking spot for every two seats, so an establishment that offers 50 seats must provide 25 parking places. But variances have been granted if the restaurant can justify them. For example, when Sweet Grass opened in Cooper-Young, the owners asked, and were given approval, to count 14 parking spaces in the lot at First Congregational Church down the street.

Echoing Welch is Michelle Perez, owner of Michelle Salon, next to Bangkok Alley on the north.

"We don't mind if people park in front of our business at night," said Perez. "We're one big family over here."

Not according to Dot Jones at Jostens, purveyor of class rings, trophies and other school paraphernalia, located one house to the south of Hog & Hominy. Told that the restaurant next door would be open for lunch July 23, Jones rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, great."

Jostens is sandwiched between Hog & Hominy and Brookhaven Pub & Grill, and with a new restaurant on West Brookhaven, Jones sees "a real parking problem. It's a big issue. During football season, people at the Pub park anywhere and everywhere, and we have to clean up the litter on our lot in the morning. We don't mind if people use our parking places at night, but we ask that they don't make a mess."

Brookhaven Pub & Grill sits between two parking lots, where houses were leveled and the yards paved for parking lots. The street possibly could see more of that activity, since the building between Hog & Hominy and Bangkok Alley is vacant and for sale. Could that space become a parking lot?

"Oh, that would be wonderful," said Dottie Cull-Burana, owner of Bangkok Alley.

"We haven't really had a problem with parking though. The other businesses are very generous about people parking at night. I mean, if parking is a problem, I'm thrilled."